Tuk Tuk Revolution

Sometimes revolutions can come in the shape of three wheels, this is the very case of the “tuk tuk revolution”.

Tuk tuks –as I prefer to call them- are also known as rickshaws, three-wheelers, moto-taxis, or caponeras. Whatever the name may be, one thing is certain: tuk tuks are here to stay. To date, tuk tuks have become icons not only in terms of transportation, but also in terms of culture and innovation.

The origins auto rickshaws are traced back to Italy, more specifically to the year 1948. According to historian and professor Dr. Thomas Brandt, the auto rickshaw was designed by Corradino D’Ascanio, an Italian aircraft designer for the company Piaggio, and most famous for inventing what we know today as the scooter “Vespa”.

While tuk tuks have been around since 1948, it was not until the 1960’s that this small three-wheel vehicle started to be thought of as a mean of transportation for the masses. What no one had expected is that the simple and low cost tuk tuk would forever change societies, economies and nations as a whole.

Arguably, tuk tuks are the contemporary version of Ford’s T-Model and Volkswagen’s beetle… a revolutionary icon. Like its predecesors, the tuk tuk is by no means the most stylish, comfortable or expensive motor vehicle; but it has what the beetle and the t-model had: a market.

Tuk tuks have forever changed transportation, providing more affordable (and fuel efficient) alternatives to taxis and buses. Tuk tuks have also improved the quality of life of the people living in pheripheral communities, connecting cities and small towns where regular public transportation is not available; and lastly, these tiny motor vehicles have reshaped economies, providing tuk tuk owners the chance to become entrepreneurs and small business owners. Whats more, tuk tuks have also become low cost ambulances, police stations, and even on the go libraries.

What has become apparent is that overtime tuk tuks have also permeated popular culture, becoming picturesque symbols of entire cities. For instance, in countries like Thailand, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and in much of Central America, mainly Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, riding a tuk tuk has become yet another sign of the vibrant culture and way of life of these countries, so much so that riding tuk tuks have become a must for tourists wanting to get a firsthand local adventure.

The lesson here is that a simple, yet innovative invention can shape the lives of people and economies for the better. A silent revolution led by three wheels has given us well-connected communities, more dynamic economies, and empowered small business owners. Tuk tuks beyond being another form of transportation have become a vehicle of opportunities.